So although the subject is a bit of a stretch it seems kind of relevant.

My tradition is Theravada and there are numerous monasteries/temples in both the native countries (Sri Lanka, Thailand, Burma, Laos, etc.) as well as in the west. These monasteries train monastics, provide the dhamma purely on dana, and dependent on your interest (scholar - most of the time goes Sri Lanka styled monasteries, Monastic Code and living communally with an emphasis on practice - Thailand, and Burma for heavy heavy practice.

With Zen it seems very little places are available to train. For the ones that are available they usually charge quiet a fair penny for residency programs, training, etc. And lastly most are a bit of everything. So one isn't able to find the niche of strong study, or strong practice, etc.

It's really sad to see. And it's surprising because knowing Zens history in America and in the West in general it would seem like it should be the exact opposite.....Christopherxx

I'm not sure about Japanese zen but most definitely in China, Korea, Taiwan & Vietnam. Although interestingly in many East Asian monasteries monks will do the cooking, the cleaning, farming etc, where-as Therevada monastaries in the East rely solely on lay people.

There are plenty of zen monasteries in asian countries. Japan, China, Korea, etc. Not as many in the US I would think but they are still around. There are plenty of zen centers though, which normally cater to and support layperson practice rather than traditional monastic practice.

One should not kill any living being, nor cause it to be killed, nor should one incite any other to kill. Do never injure any being, whether strong or weak, in this entire universe!

If you're looking for a Soto monastic setting in the US, there's Ryumonji. http://www.ryumonji.org/ The Abbot there, Rev. Shoken Winecoff, is the real deal: experienced, well trained and educated, genuine, and kind. Ryumonji has direct ties and relationship to Soto-shu in Japan.

Chung Tai Chan, one of Taiwan's Four Heavenly Kings (a name given to institutions pioneering different forms of Buddhism), is a relatively traditional Zen/Chan monastery, with branches all over the US and Australia. Please take a look at this link: http://www.ctworld.org/english-96/html/a8branches.htm

They have Seven-Day Retreat programs that you can take in total silence (quite similar to a Vipassana retreat, I heard) and you can spend prolonged periods of time as a lay volunteer following the monastic system.

And no, most legitimate Zen/Chan monasteries with real monastics shouldn't charge terribly expensive fees; they would, at most, ask you to pay for food, lodging and facilities, but would never rip you off for profit. One reason why I am quite weary of American and Western Zen teachers.